Amusement device



Oct. 22, 1935. o. B. ANDREWS AMUSEMENT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l I Filed April 16, 1955 Wu- [I f I lNVENTdR dirk/(r3. flizdreuzs ATTORNEYS Oct. 22, 1935. o, ANDREWS 2,018,393

AMUSEMENT DEVI GE Filed April 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. .22, 1935 v UNITED STATES AMUSEMENT DEVICE Oliver B. Andrews,

Application April 16,

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an amusement device and more particularly to a toy moving picture theatre which is instructive and amusing to both children and adults.

The toy theatre forming the subject matter of this invention comprises generally a box structure having a bottom wall and surrounding side walls. A secondary or false bottom wall is pref erably provided which seats upon the bottom wall of the box structure and is spaced therefrom. The secondary box wall and the surrounding side walls of the box structure are preferably decorated in an artistic manner to represent the floor, the stage and the side Walls of the theatre. A pair of spaced slots are cut in one of the side walls of the box structure and through these slots a film having story picturizations thereon is threaded. The inside face of the side wall having the slots therein is preferably decorated so as to represent a theatre stage and the surrounding proscenium, so that the film appears on the theatre stage as a picture screen. Each story picturizatio-n on the film is of such size as to occupy the space between the slots. The film may be advanced by a slight pull on the same exercised either manually or by some simple operative means, such as a reel or similar winding apparatus.

A removable cover member comprising a top 30 wall and surrounding side walls telescopes over the box structure and provides the roof or ceiling for the theatre. A peep hole extends through the side wall of the box structure and the adjacent side wall of the cover member through which 35 the story picturization on the film may be viewed from the outside of the box. Suitable means, such as a lamp or a lantern, is handily located within the box structure to illuminate the film. Colored glass or Cellophane sheets may be positioned within the box adjacent the peep hole opening to give different color efiects to the picturizations being viewed. Theatre seat representations formed from paper-board may be provided which may be removably positioned and arranged as desired within the theatre. Orchestra, attendants, patrons .and theatre box representations may also be provided, all of which may be removably and interchangeably arranged within the theatre as o-nes artistic sense may dictate. The film may be made of paperboard material and have thereon selected story representations comprising both pictures and reading matter. Innumerable subjects can be pictured thereon depending upon the object to be served and the person to be instructed or amused. Children are Chattanooga, Tenn.

1935, Serial No. 16,632

often fascinated by story picturizations of Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snowdrop and the Seven Dwarfs, and innumerable other supjects which would be of assistance to those having to do with child education. 1

An object of this invention is to provide an amusement device comprising a miniature moving picture theatre which is instructive to adults and children alike.

Another object of this invention is to provide 10 a toy moving picture theatre having a movable film, carrying story picturizations associated therewith, which may be used as an instrument of instruction to children.

Still another object of my invention is to pro- 1-5- vide a toy theatre having various parts constituting theatre accoutrem-ents which may be removably and interchangeably positioned within the theatre, and which are so made, decorated and arranged as to stimulate the artistic and mechani0 ical imagination of both child and adult.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toy theatre which may be formed of paperboard or other inexpensive material, which is strong and durable in construction, which can be economically produced and sold at low cost, which is attractive in appearance, which is pleasing in design, and accurately represents in miniature the appearance of the actual theatre.

Other objects of this invention will become apto parent as the disclosure proceeds.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and 85 advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. l is a perspective view of the toy theatre and film combination completely set up and as it appears from the outside;

Fig. la represents a card associated with the theatre and advertising the program for the day; 4.5 Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my toy theatre with the cover member slightly raised from the box structure to illustrate the film arrangement;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective View of the box structure showing the interior appearance 50 of the theatre, certain parts being broken away to illustrate certain features of the construction;

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal cross sectional view through the theatre taken on lines 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the box structure as it appears when partially assembled;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the cover member as it appears in the process of assembly; and Fig. 7 represents a card having theatre seat picturizatlons therein which are removable for placement upon the bottom wall or floor of the theatre.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the draw- A flap 14 extends over the inside face of the side flaps I! and a foot portion l5 frictionally grips the side flaps l6 holding the box structure in set up position without requiring glue. The box structure as above described may be economically constructed. It is understood, however, that I do not limit myself to the particular formation of the box above described, but a box having a bottom wall and surrounding side walls made in any manner, may be used. 7 V

' 'A peep hole or opening I! is cut through the side flaps l2g'the outer wall portion !3 and the inturned flap M of the box side walls so as to provide an opening through which the moving picture film about to be described may be viewed. The other end of the box .is provided with paired openings or slots I9 provided in the side flaps I 2; the outer wall portion l3 and the inturned flap portion I 4. The slots 19 are suitably formed so as to permit the moving picture film' F to be threaded. therethrough so that the picturizations 52 on the film may be viewed from the interior of the box structure.

The cover member which telescopes over the box structure is shown more particularly in Fig. 6. The cover member may be made from a blank similar to that from which the box structure is formed and comprises a top wall 20, one pair of side walls'2l and another pair of side walls comprising the side flaps 22 hinged to the side walls 2l.' An outer wall 23 covers the outside face of the side flaps 22 and an inturned flap 24 covers the inside face of the flaps 22. A foot piece 25 may also be provided which frictionally 'engages' 'the side walls 2| to hold the cover member in assembled position without the use of glue or other securing means. A pair of open ended slots 26 are provided in one of the end walls which correspond and register with the slots Hi provided in the box structure. I 'I'heslots 2B telescope over the protruding ends of the film, as shown in Fig. 2; to permit the cover member to be moved into closed seating position. An opening 2'! is cut in the opposite side wall of the cover member; which opening registers with the peep opening I! provided in one of the side walls of the box structure.

The film F is provided with a plurality of story picturizations '52 thereon which may comprise both pictures and reading matter. It is most convenient to thread the film F through the slots I 9 before the cover member is applied. The film can be drawn through the slots I9 by stages so that one plcturization at a time is made visible the lantern about.

across the stage 50 and the proscenium 5| pictured on the inside face of the box wall, as shown I more particularly in Fig. 3. The film F may be manually'advanced or a suitable reel or winding device may be providedfor advancing the same 5 the theatre when. the cover member B is positioned over the box structure, a suitable lantern "5b is provided. The lantern 6e may comprise an electric flashlight of the storage battery type having a lamp S2 and a handle M for moving The illuminating device 58 is preferably positioned near the peep hole opening it andis so adjusted as tocause a beam of light on the exposed surface of the film at the other'end of the theatre. To hold the illuminating device (iii in the proper position, an opening 53 is preferably cut in the secondary bottom wall or theatre floor 3%. Theilluminating device is inserted into the opening 53' and rests upon the bottom wall it of the box structure. In place of the lantern so, an incandescent light may be dropped from the box to serve as the illuminating device, if desired. 30

The slots in the cover member are preferably spaced slightly further apart than the slots it in the box structure so that when the film slides through the slots the film will not be pulled away from the screen or stage, but will closely hug the same.

The side walls and the theatre floor 3e are preferably decorated as to resemble an actual theatre asfar as possible. Thus exit openings 59 may be represented on one of the side walls and a pro- As a means of further amusing the child and further developing his artistic and mechanical sense, theatre seat representations 4!! may be provided. As shown more particularly in Figure 7, a card D of relatively stiff paperboard material is provided with cut out means or lines of weakness 42 which surround the theatre seat rep-' resentations 49 thereon. The theatre seat represen ations 45 may be easily lifted or torn out by the child. Tabs or extensions 4! thereon are p ovided which may be inserted into spaced slits Ml provided in the theatre fioor 39. The tabs dl are of sufficient length to seat against the bottom wall l9 of the box structure and are thus supported in rigid upright position. In the same 'manncr, theatre boxes 45, theatre attendants 46 and theatre orchestra 41 may be provided, all held in place by cooperating tab and slit devices as above described. The seat representations 453, as well as the boxes and theatre attendants G5, are removable and interchangeable as de- 65 ired. The childs mechanical sense as well as artistic sense is thus stimulated and cultivated.

To obtain different color effects, a colored screen ill which may comprise colored glass or Cellophane may be provided. The colored screen is preferably positioned directly adjacent the peep opening I! and preferably on the inside face thereof, as shown more particularly in Figure 3.

The toy movie theatre, as above constructed, 5

may be very economically made, substantially entirely of paper-board material except for the illuminating device 60. A number of films F having various story picturizations thereon may be provided so that the film can be changed from time to time, as is done in the actual theatre. Card E, shown in Figure 1a, may be provided. which announces the program or film to be shown. The toy theatre as thus made provides a source of amusement for adults as well as children, and the advancing film, as well as the theatre seat and other representations within the theatre, provide a stimulus to both the artistic and mechanical nature of the child.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An amusement device including in combination, a box structure comprising a bottom wall and surrounding side walls decorated to resemble a theatre interior, a film at one end of the box carrying successive story picturizations thereon, electric illuminating means within said box operative to cast a beam of light on to said fllm, a peep hole at the other end of the box through which the story picturizations on said film may be viewed, and an adjustable color screen movable over said peep hole operative to give color effects to said film.

2. An amusement device including, in combii nation, a paperboard box structure comprising surrounding side walls and a bottom wall, a raised platform resting upon said bottom wall, said platform and side walls being decorated to resemble a theatre interior, theatre seat representations therein, said platform and theatre seat representations having cooperating tabs and slits toremovably secure the theatre seat representations in set up position, a film at one end of the box carrying successive story picturizations thereon, and a peep hole at the other end of the box through which the story picturizations on said film may be viewed.

3. An amusement device including, in combination, a box structure comprising a bottom wall and surrounding side walls, a secondary bottom wall spaced from said first bottom wall, a plurality of representations of theatre accoutrements extending upwardly from said secondary bottom WaIL-means for removably supporting said representations in set up position comprising cooperating tabs and slits carried by said secondary bottom wall and said representations, the side walls of the box structure and the secondary bottom wall being decorated to resemble a theatre interior.

4. An amusement device including, in combination, a box structure comprising a bottom wall and surrounding side walls, a secondary bottom wall spaced from said first bottom wall, a plurality of theatre seat and figure representations, means for removably supporting said representations in set up position comprising cooperating tabs and slits carried by said secondary bottom wall and said representations, 2, film at one end of the box carrying successive story picturizations thereon, and a peep hole at the other end of the box through which the story picturizations on said film may be viewed.

5. An amusement device including, in combination, a box structure comprising a bottom wall and surrounding side walls, a secondary bottom wall spaced from said first bottom. wall, a plurality of theatre accoutrements removably supported on said secondary bottom wall, means for removably securing said accoutrements in arranged position comprising cooperating tabs and slits carried by said secondary bottom wall and said representations, a film at one end of the box carrying successive story picturizations thereon, an opening on said secondary bottom wall adapted to receive and support a film illuminating device, and a peep hole at the other end of the box through which the story picturizations on said film may be viewed.

6. A toy structure including, in combination, a base comprising an inverted paperboard box section including connected bottom wall and side flange portions, the latter serving to support the bottom at an elevation from the surface upon which the structure is set up, structural parts supported on said bottom, and means for removably supporting said structural parts in set up position comprising cooperating tabs and slits associated with said bottom wall and structural parts.

7. A toy building structure formed of paperboard material including in combination, a base comprising an inverted paperboard box section including connected bottom and side flange portions, the latter serving to support the bottom at an elevation from the surface upon which the structure is set up, structural parts supported on said bottom wall, and means for removably securing said structural parts in set up position including spaced slits in said bottom wall and corresponding spaced tabs associated with said structural parts insertable into said slits.

8. A toy building structure formed of paperboard material including in combination, a base comprising an inverted paperboard box section including connected bottom and side flange portions, the latter serving to support the bottom at an elevation from the surface upon which the structure is set up, structural parts supported on said bottom Wall, and means for removably securing said structural parts in set up position,

comprising spaced cooperating tabs and slits associated respectively with said structural parts and said bottom wall, the slits being so shaped that the tabs are frictionally gripped by the bottom wall.

9. A toy structure comprising, in combination, a base comprising an inverted paperboard box section having integral bottom wall and side flange portions, which latter serve to support the bottom at an elevation above a supporting surface, spaced openings in said bottom wall, a plurality of paperboard members and tabs constituting integral extensions of an edge of each of said members and positioned to fit snugly into said openings in said bottom to constitute, with said bottom, means for supporting said paperboard members in upright position on said base.

OLIVER B. ANDREWS. 

